Cell cycle progression is controlled in part by a family of cyclin proteins and cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks). Cdk proteins work in concert with the cyclins to phosphorylate key substrates involved in each phase of cell cycle progression. Another family of proteins, Cdk inhibitors, also plays a role in regulating cell cycle by binding to cyclin-Cdk complexes and modulating their activity. Several Cdk proteins have been identified, including Cdk2-Cdk8, PCTAIRE-1C3, PITALRE and PITSLRE. Large complexes containing Cdk8, cyclin C and the large subunit of RNA polymerase II have been identified. Cdk8 is thought to regulate RNA polymerase II function in conjunction with cyclin C. Cdk8 has been demonstrated to function as a transcriptional activator when fused to the DNA binding domain of GAL4.
